| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. | 1This saying is trustworthy: "If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work." |
| 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, | 2An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, |
| 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. | 3not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy-- |
| 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, | 4one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity. |
| 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? | 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God's church?) |
| 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. | 6He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. |
| 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. | 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil's trap. |
| 8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. | 8Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, |
| 9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. | 9holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. |
| 10And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. | 10And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. |
| 11Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. | 11Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. |
| 12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. | 12Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. |
| 13For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. | 13For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. |
| 14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, | 14I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. |
| 15if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. | 15But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. |
| 16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. | 16And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. |
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